national intelligence community

National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

The National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal is the highest decoration awarded for service to the United States Intelligence Community. The decoration is awarded to any member or contributor to the National Intelligence Community, either civilian or military, who distinguishes themselves by meritorious actions to the betterment of national security in the United States of America.

The National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal was once considered junior to the older National Security Medal.. With the establishment of the National Intelligence Awards (NIA) Program by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal has become the highest decoration in the intelligence community.

As an authorized U.S. non-military decoration on U.S. military uniforms, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal is worn after U.S. military unit awards and before U.S. military campaign and service awards.